Saturday, October 21, 2006

Hating Your Opponent Is Wasted Energy

Hats off to Nich Starling, a LibDem councillor in North Norfolk for THIS. Nich sums up what it's like being involved in the maelstrom of a campaign and only seeing the bad things in your opponents. Like him, in the past I have found it far easier to campaign if I actively dislike my opponents. But the older I get the more difficult I find it is to do this. I guess it's called political maturing. I have always got on with people in other parties and intend to continue doing so.

I remember several occasions when I encountered Nich at meetings in North Norfolk and could sense real hostility from him. His Blog post helps me understand why. I think we've both learned from the experience.

Campaigns are a test of character. I remember when Michael Foot, then leader of the Labour party, referred to Tories as "the enemy". I was a determined Labour supporter until that idiocy. I've never been back.